Motorcycle
riders often say, "Loud pipes save lives."
Are
they saying the sound of an unmuffled or modified motorcycle exhaust is going
to make the driving public pay attention? More people who drive automobiles are
driving in a state of inattention than in the past (pre-cellphones).
Distracted
drivers who are texting, talking on the cell, or just plain not paying
attention, will suddenly snap to at the sound of loud motorcycle exhaust.
That
in itself is going to prevent an accident? The roar of a loud motorcycle could
cause a driver to jerk the wheel and run over the biker. Okay, there may have
been occasions where the roar of loud pipes alerted an unsuspecting driver, and
an accident did not occur.
Really,
how many times do you think that does occur?
Not
enough to make it a traffic law. More than likely, the loud pipes directed
other drivers' attention to the location of the motorcycle. Consider the sound
a motorcycle's exhaust is emitting from the tailpipe at the rear of the
machine.
Whether
or not you have modified your exhaust, other drivers will see you wearing your Motorcycle
Armor Leather Jackets.
A Physics Lesson
Sound
travels at what speed?
In
ideal conditions, at sea level, 70 degrees F (21C), atmospheric conditions
normal, the speed of sound is 770 mph (1238km/h). Altitude, temperature, and
terrain will alter the speed of sound, but that is something to reference.
Now
consider the Doppler effect of sound:
"As
a motorcycle speeds forward, the frequency (and pitch) of the sound waves in
front of the bike becomes higher, and the frequency (and pitch) of the sound
waves behind it."
How
easy is it for a driver in a car to hear the exhaust sound when the driver is
about 60 feet ahead of the sound?
No
brainer, right?
You
will not create the Doppler Effect when drivers see you wearing Men
Motorcycle Leather Racing Jackets.
Why Aren’t The Loud Pipe Enforced?
All
the traffic on the street is waiting at a red traffic light, and a big bike
rolls up and revs the pipes several times. Annoying isn’t it, but, you know
where the motorcycle is, don’t you?
Most
replaced or modified motorcycle exhaust systems are emitting decibels that are
illegal. Somewhere around 70% of motorcycle owners replace or modify their
factory-installed exhaust systems.
They
want to be heard, and that is a noise hazard for others on the road as well as
the neighborhoods they ride through.
Here
is a quote from a state’s definition of muffler requirements:
|
(a) Every motor vehicle shall, at all times, be equipped with a factory-installed muffler or one duplicating factory specifications, in good working order and in constant operation, to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke. |
There
is no mention of the decibel level that is considered legal to avoid a noise
complaint. Most states only define the factory-installed muffler requirements,
not the noise level.
The
decibel level enforcement is often left up to the local jurisdictions. There
must first be a complaint describing the annoyance level of the noise to
enforce noise violations.
The Tail Pipe
It is
not that loud pipes save lives, in some rare occasions they might, the real
secret to survival is to be seen and using the bike's horn. Some horns are not
up to the task; there are modified horns on the aftermarket that will work very
well.
The
other riding defense is to ride as though the other driver does not see you.
Your safety on the highway while operating a motorcycle is mostly your
responsibility, not that of the other driver.
Wicked Stock has
all the riding accessories, gear, and apparel you will ever need to ride a
motorcycle, log on, and see what we have.
Content is originally posted at https://wickedstock.com/loud-pipes-save-lives-what-truth-does-that-statement-hold/
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